This bill allows veterans who received the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge (Second Award), or Combat Action Badge to obtain free distinctive license plates displaying "COMBAT VETERAN" and their military branch emblem. It directly affects qualifying Army combat veterans who own a private passenger vehicle or motorcycle. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans may continue using the plates by paying an annual $20 fee, but only until remarriage or non-renewal. The plates are provided at no cost to the veteran upon verification of their combat badge.
HD 3313 creates a new series of free veteran license plates in Massachusetts, waiving the standard $60 registration fee and renewal costs for eligible veterans. The bill establishes multiple plate designs to recognize specific military service, including disabled veterans (60%+ VA disability), prisoners of war, Medal of Honor recipients, Purple Heart recipients ("COMBAT WOUNDED" plates), and Gold Star family members. Veterans must provide proof of service to receive a plate, and they are also eligible for branch-of-service decals (with a special option for woman veterans). The bill includes provisions allowing widows to retain veteran plates after a spouse's death without reapplying, and optional additional fees (funding veterans' homes) are available but not required.
HD 4276 amends vehicle registration rules to create a special "VETERAN" plate designation. It adds a one-time $20 fee for these plates, in addition to standard registration costs, when first issued. This fee is not charged during subsequent renewals of the "VETERAN" plates. The bill directly affects veterans who choose this plate option for their private passenger vehicles or motorcycles.
This bill creates the Massachusetts Orange Heart Medal to honor veterans and service members who developed health conditions linked to exposure to Agent Orange or burn pits during military service. It also establishes a Veterans Agent Orange Advisory Board and a state program to provide information, medical resources, and assistance with federal claims for affected veterans. The program will study health impacts, offer genetic counseling, maintain a registry of veterans exposed to chemical agents, and help veterans access treatment and benefits. Eligibility for the medal requires service after December 6, 1941, and ties to Massachusetts (e.g., service entry, residency, or Massachusetts National Guard membership).
HD 758 adds a veteran allowance to retirement benefits for public retirees who are veterans. It provides an additional $50 per year of service (capped at $1,000 total) for veterans in Group 1, 2, or 4 retirement systems. Retirement systems must approve the change via board vote and legislative body approval, though the state teachers' and employees' systems are already deemed to have accepted it. The allowance applies prospectively only, with no retroactive payments allowed.
This bill requires Massachusetts state agencies to create a program identifying and recruiting military veterans and alumni of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Commonwealth Corps for non-civil service public jobs. It directs the human resources division to provide agencies with certificates confirming a candidate's eligibility in these categories. The program aims to help agencies hire, develop, promote, and retain these individuals through formal recruitment efforts. The bill affects state agencies hiring in non-civil service positions and directly benefits eligible veterans and service program alumni.
This bill requires the Massachusetts Commission of Veteran's Service to provide headstones for deceased members of the Massachusetts National Guard who either served 10 or more years or perished while performing duties. Headstones must match those offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The policy directly affects eligible deceased National Guard members and their families by ensuring access to standardized headstones through a state commission. It creates a new administrative duty for the commission without altering existing federal benefits.
HD 978 amends state law to expand eligibility for a parks pass waiver from only Purple Heart recipients to all veterans. Currently, the waiver applies exclusively to Purple Heart recipients under Chapter 132A Section 2D, but this bill would add "a veteran" to the qualifying categories. As a result, any veteran meeting the state's definition would qualify for the waiver, including those without a Purple Heart. The bill does not alter the existing waiver for Purple Heart recipients but broadens coverage to include all veterans.
This bill expands Massachusetts' National Guard welcome home veterans' bonus program to include all deployed members of the state's National Guard and Massachusetts-based Armed Forces Reserve Components. It amends existing law to add language ensuring the bonus applies to current members called to active service, directly affecting eligible Massachusetts National Guard and Reserve members who deploy. The key provision inserts specific wording into the General Laws to clarify that active duty service by these members qualifies for the bonus, which was previously limited to other service categories. This change ensures the bonus covers a broader range of deployed Massachusetts military personnel under the existing program.
This bill (SD 2207) requires annual cost-of-living adjustments for veterans' benefits under Chapter 59 of Massachusetts General Laws. It directly affects veterans receiving benefits specified in Section 5 of that chapter by tying their payments to the Commonwealth's average cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year. The key provision replaces previous adjustment methods with an automatic, annual update based on the state's calculated COLA, ensuring benefits keep pace with local inflation. This change applies specifically to veterans' benefits funded under the referenced section, without altering eligibility or benefit amounts otherwise.
